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Read more: https://alaskateenmedia.org/2026/07/08/in-other-news-july-2026/

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Recording: Kaylee LaTocha Letter to America

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Recording: Kaylee LaTocha Letter to America

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An Immigrant’s Journey Toward Community, Belonging, and a More United America

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Through school, work, art, volunteering, and community engagement, the writer describes how connection and service shaped their identity. As they witnessed discrimination and segregation, they committed themselves to creating change, supporting others, and envisioning a future where the United States is truly united and open to everyone.

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"Dear America,

I used to think service was something you just did because it was required. Something you showed up for, checked off, and moved on from. But over time, through experiences that felt small at first and then slowly changed me, I started to understand that service is really about noticing people, not just helping them.

My first real introduction to philanthropy was a Relay for Life cancer walk. I didn’t fully understand what I was walking into. I just knew it was an event for a cause. But being there changed something in me. Watching people walk for loved ones, for survivors, and for those they had lost made me realize this wasn’t just an activity. It was love, grief, hope, and community all in one place. In that moment, I started to understand how privileged I was just to be there, learning about service in the first place, and how easy it is to take opportunities like that for granted.

As I got older, that idea of privilege stayed with me. I began to realize how much access to education shaped everything. When I moved to California, I struggled in ways I didn’t expect. Even when I met the basic requirements in school, I wanted to go further, but things like tutoring, extracurricular support, and learning resources weren’t always accessible or affordable. I wanted to learn more, but I also saw how expensive “learning more” could be. That contradiction stuck with me.

That’s what led me to start collecting books.

I went back to my old elementary school and gathered books that were no longer being used, then organized ways to send them to schools and orphanages in the Philippines. At first, it felt simple, like I was just moving books from one place to another. But when I finally got to meet some of the children who received them months later, everything changed. They weren’t just receiving books. They were laughing, asking questions, holding onto every moment, and suddenly I wasn’t just the person giving something. I was part of something much bigger than myself.

In that moment, I realized my project wasn’t just a project anymore. It was a mission to help create something closer to equal access to learning.

But what stayed with me most wasn’t the books themselves. It was the kids. The way they were so excited to talk, to learn, to connect. It made me realize that service isn’t just about fixing a problem from far away. It’s about understanding the people behind it. And sometimes, they end up teaching you just as much as you hoped to give them.

Now when I think about philanthropy, I don’t think about one time events or individual projects. I think about connection. I think about how something as simple as a book can travel across the world and still end up creating a shared moment between two people who will never live the same life, but can still understand each other.

And maybe that’s what service really is. Not something that separates “helper” and “helped,” but something that brings people into the same story."

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Conner Prairie - Dear America... - Civic Season 2026

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Letter to America: Progress, Power, and Paradox

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Letter to America: Progress, Power, and Paradox

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Letter to America: Progress, Power, and Paradox - Latino News Network

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A thoughtful, critical look at the American experiment, balancing gratitude for the American Dream with a deep analysis of historical contradictions.

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Dear America,

What does it mean to be a citizen of America, 250 years after the conception of an idea that has bloomed into our country?

Sure, we vote, we pay taxes, we serve on juries.

But at some point over the last 250 years we have lost the we that unites us as that larger whole.

To be a citizen is to exist as a singular step in a staircase. No one step can provide a great enough view to set sites on a brighter tomorrow, much less reach a united destination.

Despite this notion, we now stand miles apart from each other on our isolated soap boxes, devoid of any compulsion to form that staircase. Should one box be swept away and our neighbor with it, the space between us is wide enough for us to look the other way.

To not meet the gaze of our fellow citizens as they fall victim to the ever raging current.

250 years ago, America was formed on the raft of the union of the ideas we all still stand on. These ideals, once having been a united force beneath the feet of every American, have been inexplicably splintered by the wear of a constant stream of self-fulfilled discontent.

In the wreckage of our history, we stand close enough to throw a rope to each other, to pull each other near and bind a new raft. Yet those who hold the rope remain reluctant to employ it for the reconstruction of a larger whole on the basis of perception.

The perception of the existence of a reasonable doubt creates a fracturing hesitation between us. For what if the rope is thrown but is then wasted because our neighbor stands on a soap box of different origin from our own?

We fail to see the obvious, however. That a box is still a box. Regardless of what formed it and what it contains. It is this that we have lost sight of and has divided us, leaving us all to the mercy of an ever-perpetuated current as we bob along refusing help from those who stand upon different ground.

We must once again strive to be citizens of America, not citizens solely of our own mind and fears.

Sincerely,

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An Immigrant’s Journey Toward Community, Belonging, and a More United America

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Through school, work, art, volunteering, and community engagement, the writer describes how connection and service shaped their identity. As they witnessed discrimination and segregation, they committed themselves to creating change, supporting others, and envisioning a future where the United States is truly united and open to everyone.

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In small towns across the nation, in accordance with ours of Madison New Jersey, we will gather to recognize an anniversary. Though this milestone has been one of many, I ask that it not be a mere nod to the curiosities of the past, but the spark of an ongoing admiration for all that led us here. Our founding fathers through incredible strife composed a nation they saw fit for those they would never meet, and 250 years ago took the declarative act of rolling that idea into motion. Setting in stride a sort of imperfect waltz that has bridged the generations. From our brilliant triumphant stands to our bittersweet sacrifices to times mired in the trouble and chaos of ill decision. And amidst the growing distractions and ample conveniences of modern life, it can be difficult to recall these struggles. But as the years have mounted higher we now find ourselves the tailors and seamstresses of this great tapestry. And as we weave our portion may we do so with care to those neighbors binding us on this great timeline. And sift among their aging and rusted heirlooms with the veneration of a dutiful curator. Keeping alive those voices that reside in our countries keep. May we remember with honesty the people who played their role in those years, whether they be doers of just or unjust actions. For the sole act of having been where we now are, they remain our most valuable counsel to navigate what may come. we cannot let ourselves be the ones who cutoff our future countrymen, from those cables of communication which we have had the privilege to hear. For we too shall have been where others will stand as time does what it will. On this anniversary, We arrive at this 250th year not at a culmination, but as an active set of hands entrusted with holding, for a short while an idea that may never be finished yet must always be maintained.

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Dearest America,

I was eleven years old when I watched Barack Obama take the oath of office, and I believed with my whole chest that you had decided to mean it.

I grew up a white kid in a neighborhood that was mostly Black and brown, in schools that were the same. I learned the most important things I know in those rooms, from people to whom you had given the least. In the sixth grade I had a teacher named Mr. Laurence, a Black man who taught Leadership. He chose me, the white kid, to keep his water cup full. I did it gladly. I was proud to be the one he chose. And in that same room, that same year, he played us Spike Lee's X and introduced me to Malcolm. The man whose water I carried put a prophet in my hands.

I did not understand, at eleven, what it meant for you to elect a Black president. I only knew that something had arrived. Something we had been promised was possible. Something that felt, that cold morning in January, like the distance between what you said and what you did had finally closed. I thought you had decided to pay what you owed.

You have been holding anniversaries of your founding for 250 years, and you are very good at it. The fireworks. The speeches. The long warm feeling of having lasted. You have made the marking of the occasion into an art. The paying for it you have never learned at all.

The pattern is not hidden. You declared freedom in 1776 with the auction blocks running in your streets. You freed the slaves and kept the forty acres for yourself. You passed the civil rights and let the repair go unpaid. Every time the moment came, the moment the grace would finally cost you something, you pocketed the inspiration and left the bill on the table. You kept the symbol and let go of the thing the symbol was for.

And you did it to the prophets too. This is the part that should keep you up at night. The men and women who stood in the gap, who told you the truth in language you could not pretend not to understand, who you called dangerous and radical and divisive for the sin of saying it out loud, you waited until they were safely dead and then you made them into decorations. Douglass on a stamp. Ida B. Wells on a wall. Their faces in every classroom and their demands in none of them. You took everything they asked of you and folded it down into something that asks you for nothing, and you called that honoring them.

Let me tell you what the other kind of grace looks like, because I have lived inside it. It looks like people who had been given nothing choosing to give me everything. I belonged to the country that shorted them, and they poured into me anyway. They gave me a tradition built to outlast a nation that would not keep its word, and they put it in my hands as though I had a right to it. They taught me how to love a country that had never once loved them back. I did not earn that and I could not have earned it, which is the whole nature of grace. It is never earned. It is only paid for. Somebody always pays.

You, America, have never paid. Your grace has never cost you a thing, and that is the precise reason it has never changed a thing.

I turn twenty-nine this summer, a few weeks after you turn 250. The belief that came to me on that January morning has never once left. Not when I grew old enough to feel the irony in a Black man choosing the white boy to carry his water. Not now, with the evidence against that belief lying everywhere I look. I keep believing anyway. That is either the most foolish thing about me or the only thing worth saying to you.

The people, when they decide to, can begin the world over again. That sentence is older than you are, and it means exactly what it says. Not on its own. Not by the turning of a calendar. When they decide. The deciding has always been the missing thing. Not the strength for it, not the wealth for it, not even the wanting of it in the abstract. The decision. The hour you stop performing the grace and start paying for it.

Most of the letters you receive this year will sing you happy birthday, and they should, because there is something here worth loving, something that has survived and that bends, on its best days, toward the promises it made. I love it too. I want you to hear that I mean it.

But I came here to ask you for the one thing you have spent 250 years refusing to give. I am asking you to mean it the way it was meant to me. To hand the country its own promise the way Mr. Laurence handed me Malcolm: freely, at your own cost, without waiting to be repaid.

I have carried that since I was eleven years old, and I am not tired yet. I will hand it to you the same way it came to me. All you have to do is decide to take it.

I am still here.

Are you?

With everything I have,

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I’ll be honest: I’m often a pessimist. So writing a letter to America for our 250th anniversary means making an intentional choice to be hopeful and to look toward what we can become, not just what we are. Fake it until you make it, right? But even in a moment when opportunity and progress feel low and slow, I find myself returning to the parts of my life that shaped me. Many of those moments for me were shaped by service.

I grew up in a low‑income home, and programs like TRIO Upward Bound helped guide me toward a future I couldn’t yet see for myself. In a home where college was never discussed, TRIO Upward Bound helped me understand it was possible. Later, AmeriCorps gave me the chance to serve communities across the country. To learn, to lead, and to understand what it truly means when people show up for one another. These programs didn’t just give me “cool” opportunities like touring colleges in new cities or standing on the rim of a national park; they shaped me into who I am. They taught me to think of others, to serve others before serving myself, and to step up, and step back to allow space for others.

As I envision America’s future, my hope is simple: a country shaped by service. A country that values volunteerism, lifts people up through generosity, and encourages us to put the common good ahead of individual gain. A country where service isn’t an afterthought or a budget line being cut, but a non‑negotiable part of who we are.

Today, many of the programs that shaped me are at risk of fading away. Some are shrinking, some are struggling, and some are fighting to survive. My wish for America at 250 is that we choose differently. That we invest in the opportunities that open doors for those who need doors opened. That we protect the programs that help young people build meaningful skills, mindsets and futures so that they, too, can be shaped by service.

That’s the America I hope for. An America shaped by service.

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On June 4, 1876, on the eve of our Nation’s centennial, the Transcontinental Express completed its inaugural voyage across America’s newly-constructed coast-to-coast railroad, traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific in just 83 hours. This milestone marked the end of the Railroad Race, and the beginning of the Gilded Age, epitomized by its rail barons and drastic wealth disparity.

On June 12, 2026, approaching its 250th anniversary, America gained the world’s first trillionaire. This milestone marks the latest phase in a Billionaire Space Race, the driving force behind a New Gilded Age, epitomized by “space barons” and previously-unimaginable wealth.

Like the race to build transcontinental rail, the commercial space race is a rush to establish cheap infrastructure for a new frontier.  Just as the railroads dramatically reduced the cost of shipping, commercial space services similarly promise to reduce the cost of putting payloads into orbit.

The commercial space race echoes its steam-powered predecessor in more than just exploration.  The private space industry likewise is subject to the whims of its billionaire owners, and is supported by monopolistic, eye-popping, and ever-growing government contracts.

If America fails to institute common-sense regulation of this commercial space cartel, we are on track to relearn the hard lessons of the Gilded Age, with its questionable business dealings, dodgy practices, and relentless pursuit of profit.

The rail barons were empowered by government contracts and laws effectively giving them carte blanche in the West. Their monopoly on railroad construction meant they could charge taxpayers as much as they wanted, cutting corners and inflating costs wherever they could, making the process of constructing the transcontinental railroad ruinously dangerous, expensive, and inefficient.

After killing NASA's Space Shuttle program in 2012, the United States became dependent, overnight, on Russia for launch capabilities. Since 2020, this liability has shifted to our private sector, with SpaceX providing launch services, alongside other emerging companies like Blue Origin—and just like the railroad race, the corporate space race is administered through lucrative government contracts.

The key tenets of international space law—establishing outer space as the “domain of all mankind,” providing for its preservation, and preventing land claims—apply to state actors, not private ones.  While nations theoretically are responsible for addressing violations by private companies under their jurisdiction, a country dependent on private companies for launch services has little motive to hold them accountable.

For-profit companies are not beholden to the international community or even to our Nation; they are responsible only to their owners, the space barons who hold monopolies on American space travel.

In the race for a transcontinental railroad, the lack of meaningful regulation meant lengthy detours, needless worker deaths, and wasted taxpayer money.  The commercial space race ups the ante exponentially.  A brief glance at recent history demonstrates these risks.

On January 16, 2025, a SpaceX Starship launch exploded over the Caribbean, showering flaming wreckage and toxic chemicals over an area roughly three times the size of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, endangering life below, and putting at risk dozens of passenger airlines flying through the debris field.

The following year, on May 28, the failure of a Blue Origin rocket test resulted in the second-largest explosion in space-launch history, destroying a historic NASA launchpad and again putting lives at risk on the ground.

These tragedies, which underscore real-life dangers from a poorly-regulated commercial space industry, are only two examples; the list goes on.

The United States space program has yet to return to its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  That it has taken us over half a century to get back to the Moon is simultaneously a testament to the ineffectiveness of our current model and to the benefits of the previous model with its publicly-owned infrastructure.

Contractors always have been, and always will be, a necessary component of space travel; but the only way to guarantee safety and accountability to the taxpayer is through a combination of NASA ownership/operation of launch infrastructure and better regulation of the private space industry.

There remains a place—indeed, an imperative—for private launch services, but they must play by the same set of rules as their public counterparts, and hold to the same standards of safety, transparency, and accountability. Only in this way can our public/private space partnership avoid repeating the mistakes of the Railroad Race at our Nation’s centennial, and successfully navigate America's final frontier in our 250th year and beyond. "

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America to me is a place where people can be and do whatever they want as long as it doesn't hurt others. I see it as a place where everyone deserves sunshine, freedom and justice. They don't need to fit a certain agenda, they just need to fit in with their group of people and then their group of people fits with other groups of people! Everyone is allowed to like what they like, but you also need to take into account about what other people feel. You should be able to enjoy whatever you want and express yourself as much as you want but the only rule is to make sure everyone is safe, comfortable and accepted. No matter what they look like, no matter how they dress, no matter how they celebrate and what they celebrate. That is what America is to me.

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I am a spectator, witnessing growth

I am a spectator, witnessing that growth at cost, cost to our past, our present, and our future but most importantly, our identity

I am a spectator, one who has no means of change, no method of conveying my opinion, spectating the shift of tides that separate me from my nation

I am a listener, hearing those who surround me speak in foreign tongues about my home, my land

I am a speaker, forced into speaking their tongue to tell them “it's not always going to be this way”, that “my nation is better than this”

I am in awe

I am in awe of our nation, rising, pushing forward with the persistence of the ocean, driving itself towards its destiny, in the only way that we know how

I am in awe of how 250 years ago, our nation created an idea and emotion so powerful that it could indeed light a fire that would burn for oh so many years

I am a witness, a witness to the collapse of our nation’s family, as a wedge is being driven between, losing our community to the voice of whichever monster screams the loudest

I am a witness to the 11th hour of our nation

I am a witness as we rocket towards the point of no return, beyond the horizon of truth and equality

I am a product

I am a product of a failing land, a land once meant to bind us together under the word United

I am a victim, a victim of lies, disceptions, and deeds performed in the name of my land

I have resigned myself

I have resigned myself to the fate of my country strapped in by pride and affection, awaiwitng our final descent

I am a dreamer

I am dreaming of one day, long away in which the word United draw my nation together

I am waiting for that future

I am powerless in the creation of this future

I am hoping

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A Great Eagle Cannot Fly Without It's Feathers!

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A Great Eagle Cannot Fly Without It's Feathers!

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Dear America,

In the coming weeks, we will celebrate an undeniable milestone for any sovereign nation: the semiquincentennial. What we have done to get to this moment has been nothing short of challenging, but we, as Americans, are always in pursuit of success. From our rough beginnings as English settlers to the brutal Civil War, to our victory in WWII, and to the Civil Rights Movement, where countless people sacrificed their lives so that others could have their basic rights. Our country has been through so much, people of color have been through so much, yet despite all these lessons, some parts of America have forgotten how deep our roots run. They have forgotten that this country was not built merely by the English settlers but by the millions of enslaved Africans, and by millions of Native Americans who were victims of disease and cultural eradication. Our foundation is built on diversity. Our people, our geography, and our history are diverse, and we must never forget that.

My 8th-grade social studies teacher once told me, contrary to the belief that America is one big melting pot where cultures mix and lose their flavor, that each culture is a feather on one big eagle. Every feather contributes to the beauty of the majestic bird, because every feather is unique. It may seem that plucking some feathers off may look normal, but when we neglect multiple feathers, we become unrecognizable. America, you must realize you are an eagle composed of smaller feathers.

America, even though I will not be there in the next 250 years, I hope that my children, my grandchildren, and beyond, will be proud to be Korean-American. They will be proud to be upstanding citizens of the United States of America and to be thankful that the Pak and Lim Family decided to move to America in the 1980’s. America, the great bald eagle, the leader of tomorrow, in the next 250 years, I hope that you will continue to be the country that helps other countries become proud nations like ours, reaching their own semiquincentennial.

Remember that America’s greatest strength comes not from a single group of people, but from a mix of cultures. We’re made up of different religions, ethnicities, and beliefs. If we forget this basic principle, we forget our past, and if we forget our past, we will never grow to our full potential. Remember, America, that without your feathers, you will never be able to fly.

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Dear America…

You keep asking where the leaders are.

We’re right here.

Standing in classrooms where the ceilings leak,

walking through neighborhoods where sirens sing louder than lullabies,

scrolling past tragedy before first period,

learning how to survive

before we ever get the chance to simply live.

You call us the future.

But we’re living in your present.

You tell us to dream big,

while cutting the very things that help us dream.

You tell us to stay out of trouble,

but lock the doors to the spaces where we belong.

You ask why we’re hurting,

without asking what happened to us.

Dear America…

We are not your headlines.

We are not your statistics.

We are not your stereotypes.

We are artists.

We are athletes.

We are organizers.

We are caregivers.

We are creators.

We are survivors.

And yes…

We are leaders.

We have sat in city halls.

We have spoken into microphones that were never meant for our voices.

We have turned pain into purpose,

fear into action,

and hope into movements.

We don’t need another speech

about believing in young people.

Believe us

when we tell you what we need.

Safe schools.

Safe neighborhoods.

Mental health that doesn’t depend on a zip code.

Opportunities that don’t come with conditions.

A chance to be children

before we’re expected to carry the weight of the world.

Dear America…

Stop asking us to wait our turn.

Our turn is now.

Don’t invite us into the room

just to decorate the table.

Invite us to make the decisions.

Because partnership is louder than performative promises.

Action speaks longer than applause.

So here’s our promise to you:

We will keep showing up.

We will keep organizing.

We will keep dreaming.

We will keep fighting for each other,

even when the world tells us not to.

Because our generation refuses to inherit silence.

We inherit courage.

So hear us.

Not tomorrow.

Not when it’s convenient.

Not after another tragedy.

Hear us…

Now.

Because, Dear America—

Our youth are here.

And we’re not asking for permission.

We’re asking you to build the future with us.

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Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Youth Letters to America

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Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Youth Letters to America

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Arkansas youth invited to share reflections for America’s 250th | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Clinton Presidential Center and Made By Us are inviting young Arkansans ages 5-25 to share their reflections and hopes for our country through “Letters to America.”

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Project Pericles: Jason Vadnos, Reyhan Sanchez, Terry Cai

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This July 4, the United States turns 250. The document at the center of the anniversary, the Declaration of Independence, was in one sense America's first letter to the world: a written account of who its authors wanted the country to become.

Two and a half centuries later, our partners at Made By Us have invited a new generation to write their own contemporary Letters to America. The campaign asks people under 30 to tell the national story in their own words through essays, reflections, and art.

Today, June 27, 2026, is National Youth Takeover Day when institutional platforms are being turned over to younger voices. We're pleased to hand over ours to young people on our team.

What follows are three forms circling multiple sides of the question of who gets to write the American story and who gets to claim a voice in it. Jason Vadnos, our Civic Impact Associate and a rising senior at Vanderbilt University, underscores that his generation's civic energy is alive and that the mechanics of voting keep blocking it from the ballot. Summer Intern Reyhan Sanchez, a rising junior at Tufts, moves from the powerlessness of being a lone citizen to the strength and communion a generation can feel in acting together. Summer Intern Terry Cai, a rising junior at Connecticut College, takes the pencil itself-graphite, pressure, the body pressed to the page-as a way into who gets written into history and who has been sanded out of it.

An essay, a reflection, and a poem are three ways of having voice in a story that's still being written. This is at the core of work students do on Periclean campuses every year.
By Jason Vadnos, Civic Impact Assistant This piece was also published in The Fulcrum on May 2, 2026.
We are in a big election year, and people are asking the same tired questions: whether the next generation will show up to repair the broken democracy they've inherited or whether apathy will keep them home. I used to believe the apathy myth, but last November proved otherwise. Even in places where youth turnout wasn't record-breaking, the idea that young people don't care simply doesn't match reality. After all, survey data from the 2022 midterms suggests that among young people who didn't vote in 2022, just 28% of Gen Z said it was because they didn't think it mattered, compared to 40% of Millennials. This accords with my own experiences: I've spent the past two years mobilizing students on dozens of college campuses across the US to register and cast their votes, and I've seen firsthand just how deeply my generation cares about the fate of our country-and why their passion so often stops short of the ballot box.

Every day, thousands of my fellow students across the nation are working tirelessly to make their campuses and communities better places. From supporting the operations of local food pantries to administering free flu shots to healthcare workers and providing free income tax assistance, our issue is not indifference. It's that our preferred forms of engagement often happen outside the orbit of electoral politics. The CIRCLE survey substantiates this: among young people who stayed home in 2022, Gen Z were more likely than Millennials to cite being too busy, and less likely to say their vote didn't matter.

But this raises an important question: if Gen Z is so invested in social change, why isn't that energy showing up in voting numbers? The answer is simpler than you may think. For students, casting your ballot is often just plain hard.

I've had dormmates from out of state who didn't have a local driver's license, meaning they needed to fill out a paper registration form and physically drop it off at the county elections office. Without a car, facing limited public transportation options, and in the middle of a full course load, it was easier for many not to vote. My own voting experience was not without issue. I ordered an absentee ballot to my campus P.O. box, waited weeks for it to arrive, and by the time I filled it out and returned it to my home state, the deadline for acceptance had passed. No matter how engaged college students might be, structural barriers -and often, deliberate disinformation campaigns - pose significant challenges to being able to have a say in our future.

Unfortunately, this leads to a major chicken-and-egg problem. When the existing system prevents young people from voting, candidates and elected officials don't see young voters as a constituency they must answer to, leaving us feeling unheard and further disengaged. When leaders offer genuine hope, speak to young people's concerns, and present a future we can imagine ourselves thriving in, something shifts. Just look at Zohran Mamdani's success in New York City. Rather than demonizing his opponents and painting an apocalyptic picture of the Big Apple if he wasn't elected, he campaigned on a future that would address issues young people care about, such as affordability and housing.

When young people feel seen, when the system opens space for their voices, and when casting a ballot feels like building something new and better, participation stops being a chore and becomes the natural next step.

So, how do we move towards a world where young people are both deeply engaged in their communities and habitual voters? How do we remove the structural challenges students face while countering the narrative that Gen Z doesn't care?
By Reyhan Sanchez, Summer Intern
For young voters, campus organizers, and other interested parties, the answer is simple: get involved with organizations and people who are passionate about closing the voting gap. Nonpartisan groups like the Fair Elections Center's Campus Vote Project and Every Vote Counts work directly with colleges and universities nationwide to provide students with the resources, information, and opportunities they need to get to the ballot box. From institutionalizing pro-voting campus reforms to directly challenging legislative barriers, exposing disinformation, and supporting nonpartisan voter registration drives, these nonprofits play a critical role in bringing Gen Z's civic energy to the polls.

But they can't do it alone. These groups need student leaders like me to help turn our campus networks into real voting power. If we want a government that reflects our needs and the needs of those who come after us, we have to channel the same energy we bring to every other part of our civic lives into the ballot box. We've already seen what our votes can do when we show up, and that momentum is ours to build on. With students stepping forward-and with real support from our institutions and communities-we can make voting a habit and strengthen the civic muscle our generation has already proven it possesses.

What does it mean to be a citizen of the United States of America? One could pose this question to a number of individuals and would receive a variety of answers back, although they would all likely share one idea: freedom. That is not quite surprising coming from a country we call the "Land of the Free," although it has felt as if "We the People" have had little control over the undertakings of our homeland.

Instead, our democracy bends to the will of foreign interest, economic appeal, and hegemonic aspirations more than to the prayers for civilian rights, public infrastructure, and social equality. A democracy that does not focus on those who participate can hardly be seen as one. Participants feel more like audience members, watching as decisions are made for them. It has already demotivated a large part of the population from interacting with the political sphere after being filled with this powerlessness.
By Terry Cai, Summer Intern
To be honest, I have fallen victim to this feeling at times, believing there is no possible way that I, as a singular being, could possibly influence more than myself. But then I realized, it was because of this way of thinking, that this systemic hopelessness sinks in. It takes a collective agreement to fight back and institute change as a people. If we continue to view ourselves as individuals and only individuals, we will forget our capacity to rally and the power that it provides us.

You may not be able to convince everyone to join you, or even capable of ensuring that there will be people supporting you at first. But every movement started with someone who believed that they alone were enough to bring change. So don't wait for the right time to put yourself out there and take a stand. The right time is now.

Let us go then, you and I,

Lines of carbon crystal huddle by each other

Each remarkable,

Elbow by elbow, let us link together

Floating around

The stratosphere

Or striding through seedy streets

Lonely GPS and me

Acoustic beeps resounding

Thick black bodies stumbling into line

On pale white pages

Parched and unsettled and unprinted

Say chains and imprison and sanded down

Holes punched thrice through spines

Pulped and pressed

And I hold onto your hand tighter still,

Together, one formation,

A sentence, perhaps a book's binding:

"The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house."

Lines quoted from T.S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," first published in Poetry (1915); and from Audre Lorde, "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House," delivered 1979.

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Writing Themselves In: Three Letters to America - Project Pericles

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Periclean youth staffers on who gets to write the next 250 years. This July 4, the United States turns 250. The document at the center of the anniversary, the Declaration of Independence, was in one sense America's first letter to the world: a written account of who its authors wanted the country to become.

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A Letter to America on Your 250th Birthday

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A Letter to America on Your 250th Birthday

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This is for the youth of America, you will be the ones to set our course toward the tricentennial.

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A Letter to America on Your 250th Birthday

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America’s Future in Business_Hunter Malpass

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Dear America,

As you approach your 250th birthday, many people will look back on your greatest achievements. They will celebrate the victories, innovations, and freedoms that have defined your story. But I believe the most important question is not what America has been. It is what America will become.

I belong to a generation that has grown up in a rapidly changing world. We have witnessed incredible advances in technology, medicine, and communication. We can connect with people across the globe in seconds and access more information than any generation before us. Yet we have also seen division, misinformation, and growing distrust. We have inherited both extraordinary opportunities and difficult challenges.

America, your strength has never come from being perfect. Your strength has come from your ability to improve. Throughout your history, people have challenged injustice, expanded rights, and worked to build a more inclusive nation. Progress has often been slow and difficult, but it has been possible because each generation believed the future could be better than the present.

As a young person, I hope the next chapter of America is defined by education, innovation, and unity. I hope every student has access to the resources needed to reach their potential, regardless of their background. I hope scientific discovery continues to solve problems that once seemed impossible. Most importantly, I hope we learn to listen to one another again; not as opponents, but as American citizens working toward common goals.

The challenges facing my generation cannot be solved by one political party, one community, or one leader. They will require collaboration, curiosity, and courage. They will require people who are willing to disagree respectfully while remaining committed to the ideals that unite us.

When future generations look back on America's 250th anniversary, I hope they see it not as a celebration of the past alone, but as a turning point. I hope they see a nation that chose progress over division, opportunity over inequality, and hope over skepticism.

America, your story is still being written. The next chapter belongs to my generation, and we are ready to help write it.

Sincerely,
A Young American

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Dear America,

They tell us we are the future.
But the future isn't waiting somewhere far away.
The future is sitting in classrooms today.
The future is walking crowded hallways, studying for tests, working after school, caring for family, and trying to figure out what comes next.
The future is already here.
And yet, too often, young people are told to wait our turn.
Wait until we're older.
Wait until we have more experience.
Wait until someone gives us permission to speak.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
But what if we don't wait?
Are we going to spend our lives walking in someone else's footsteps,
or are we going to create our own path?
What if our voices matter now?
What if the ideas we have today can shape tomorrow?
I've seen young people lead, speak up, and create change.
I've seen students turn ideas into action.
I've seen a generation that cares deeply about the world we're inheriting.
Not because these issues might affect us someday.
Because they affect us every day.
So this is my letter to America.
A reminder that young people are more than statistics, test scores, and future voters.
We are thinkers.
We are creators.
We are leaders.
We are problem-solvers.
We are citizens.
Do you hear that?
The sound of students asking questions.
Do you hear that?
The sound of young people refusing to stay silent.
Do you hear that?
The sound of ideas being shared, dreams being spoken, and change beginning.
Listen.
To the students raising their hands.
Listen.
To the young people speaking up when no one expects them to.
Listen.
To the voices that have been told they are too young, too inexperienced, too idealistic.
Listen.
Because we are already here.
And while we may not have all the answers, we deserve a chance to help ask the questions.
What kind of country do we want to become?
What kind of future are we building?
And who gets a voice in creating it?
As America approaches 250 years of history, we celebrate the people, ideas, and moments that shaped this nation.
Two hundred and fifty years of progress.
Two hundred and fifty years of challenges.
Two hundred and fifty years of people daring to imagine something better.
Every generation has helped write America's story, adding its own chapter to the journey.
Now it is our turn.
Not to erase the past, but to learn from it.
Not to simply inherit the future, but to help build it.
My hope for America is simple:
An America that listens.
An America that values different perspectives.
An America where young people are invited into conversations, not left outside the room.
An America that sees youth not as leaders of tomorrow, but as partners today.
Because every generation leaves its mark on history.
And my generation is ready to leave ours.
So, America, this is my message:
Do you hear that?
The voices of young people speaking.
If young people are speaking,
listen.
Do you hear that?
The sound of young people leading.
If young people are leading,
listen.
Do you hear that?
The sound of young people showing up.
If young people are showing up—
listen.
Listen to the ideas.
Listen to the passion.
Listen to the hopes, the concerns, and the dreams we carry.
Listen to the generation that is ready to help write the next chapter.
Because we are speaking.
We are leading.
We are showing up.
And I think we are ready.
Ready to contribute.
Ready to create change.
Ready to be heard.
The question is not whether we have a voice.
The question is:
Are you listening or blocking out the noise?

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Why Can’t We Figure out Our Social Media?

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Why Can’t We Figure out Our Social Media?

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As 250 years of independence is celebrated around the country, I find myself pondering whether we are living up to the values we claim to represent
Recently, official government social media accounts such as the White House have used popular songs, memes, and trends to promote deportations and immigration enforcement or ICE. In some cases, artists whose music was used have publicly objected to their work being associated with these messages. Music is meant to connect people and not to turn the removal of human beings into a spectacle.

What concerns me even more is the way deportations are often portrayed online. They are presented as simple success stories, as if every deportation is automatically a win for this country or a matter of safety. This isn’t true and behind every “removal” is a person. Behind every video is a family, a community regardless of their legality or nationality. Regardless of where someone stands politically, it is impossible to deny that many deportation practices can be deeply dehumanizing. People are reduced to a racist joke and not a person.

America has always been a nation that strives toward liberty and justice. Yet when we celebrate actions that separate families or treat vulnerable people as content for social media engagement, we move further away from those ideals. Enforcing laws and respecting human dignity should not be mutually exclusive. We can have borders and still have compassion. We can have security and still recognize the humanity of others.

As America turns 250, I hope we choose empathy over mockery, dignity over spectacle, and humanity over division. The question is not whether we can enforce laws. The question is whether we can do so while remaining true to the principles we celebrate every Fourth of July or when we hang the red white and blue flags.

For the next 250 years, I hope the answer is yes.

Sincerely,
Sienna

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A Missing Piece in the Puzzle of Democracy

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A Missing Piece in the Puzzle of Democracy

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The United States of America has historically risen above times of despair and has triumphed in times of prosperity. Our country’s unique ability to overcome otherwise impossible difficulties foundationally defines our status as a notable superpower. This idea derives from the United States, a country ironically embodying division to an unprecedented degree. Our past boasts an impressive record, one of continued cooperation to develop the home of its patriotic citizens. This utopian notion slowly withers with each new proposal. Political polarization has been increasingly ingrained into our minds and our system as Americans. For students like myself, it becomes challenging to reconcile being told that, in theory, the purpose of government is to produce viable solutions democratically, while witnessing the upsetting opposite in reality. As rising youth inheriting an evolving system, it remains difficult to comprehend that compromise and cooperation remain so easily undermined by disagreement, an essential puzzle piece in the complex puzzle of democracy.

The difference between now and the past is subtle—yet profoundly significant. In the past, disagreements met thoroughly considered compromises. Now, even simple negotiation remains a rare utopian dream of the average American, as weakness and failure are more associated with settlements. Political identity and loyalty matter far more than problem-solving, and government resembles competition over cooperation.

For America’s 250th, Americans must recommit to the betterment of society rather than their party. This central problem is intricately woven into many modern-day issues America encounters. This plea does not accuse certain individuals but serves as a stark reminder of the placement of prized allegiance. Shall allegiance lie within the disagreement and triumph of a faction, or within the shared objective of national progression? In 250 years, the United States has triumphed over perceived implausibility. What makes this moment different?

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One of the most important principles that the United States was founded on is democracy. When the colonies declared independence from Britain in 1776, they decided they didn’t want to be ruled by a king who could make whatever decisions he wanted. The nation’s approach was that the government would “[derive] their just powers from the consent of the governed” (The Declaration of Independence, 1776).

One major example of American democracy is how leaders get their power. America’s founders created a system in which leaders were chosen by the people’s votes. Although the Electoral College system can affect certain votes, the general idea remains that Americans get to play a part in deciding who leads their country. Americans get to choose who they want to lead them every four years, which gives Americans the ability to choose a president who is best suited to lead the country at the time. Each presidential election, millions of people participate, which only confirms how important the democratic voting process is to the people.

As the United States developed, the country expanded voting rights to groups who were originally excluded from the process. Amendments such as the fifteenth and nineteenth gave more American citizens the right to vote, including African Americans and women. These changes show how American democracy is meant to evolve and improve.

My vision for America’s future is one where democracy continues to grow stronger and more inclusive. I believe our country operates at its best when more people are involved and participate. Democracy isn’t just something written in the Declaration of Independence, but something we have to protect, maintain, and change for the better. If we, the future of this country, continue to engage and advocate for problems that affect us, the United States of America can successfully move toward a more equal society. Ultimately, democracy remains one of America’s most important principles because it allows citizens to continue to grow stronger and have a voice, which is a future I want to be a part of.

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Old Enough to Know Better (World Affairs Council Philadelphia)

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Old Enough to Know Better (World Affairs Council Philadelphia)

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250 years is old. Old enough to have come a lot closer to a more perfect union. Asked what one word he will use to describe America, the former president, Joe Biden said “possibility.” According to him. There is nothing this nation cannot achieve if we do it together.

This country was set up to thrive on diversity. It is the strength of America. In recent years, the country has been divided. There is no unity of purpose. I hope that through the USMNT and this World Cup, America will come to the realization that we can only win when we do it as one.

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Dear America: Stick Together (World Affairs Council Philadelphia)

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Dear America: Stick Together (World Affairs Council Philadelphia)

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Dear America,

The Declaration of Independence was created on the foundation that people should be free to live in the way that they believe is best for themselves. The idea that a large group of people could stand up against an oppressor and fight for sovereignty shows the dedication to freedom that the people of America have always had.

It is important that in spite of all the difficulties that the country faces, especially in how we behave toward one another, that the people of America stick together because of a common goal. Never should anyone feel obligated to place their own goals for the US above others, as this country was always bettered by people who set aside their differences to achieve several goals for the good of everyone.

I hope that the United States’ prevails even through times of uncertainty; that the ideals of freedom for all continue to be fought for, because that is what America was built upon.

Sincerely, Elena

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Dear America,
Our country is built off of pieces of paper, but now our youth can't read them anymore.

I have been attending many school board meetings with my friends and fellow peers, arguing for proper staffing for my district's music education programs, and the consequences of failing to do so. As I was listening to members of my community, they all had fears that fall into the same group. Elementary school parents worried about the impact of technology and AI on children's education. Middle school teachers confused as to why we're adding seven minutes of core instructional time, in the name of test scores. And high school students fighting to maintain non-core academic programs.

Soon, I came to realize that our music education dilemmas are one consequence of the major crisis that plagues the whole country. More children are failing to meet grade-level requirements for subjects across the board, and they are becoming increasingly more disruptive. As a result, test scores have fallen, leading to budget cuts and leaving arts, music, and athletic programs vulnerable.

Across social media you can see personal narratives. Students unable to pronounce the sentence "She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary, but somewhat gauche.", and teachers are complaining about how "Kids can't read anymore" and are switching careers due to extreme behavioral problems. The bottom line? The next generation has lost the motivation to learn, and it shows.

Libraries without readers are just buildings full of paper. One match and it all turns into meaningless ash. What's the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence good for if nobody can understand what it says?

America, you pride yourself on being a country of free thinkers. But you're failing to give the next generation these necessary tools to think for themselves, and you're failing to hold them accountable for mistakes, to allow them to learn. You seem too focused on meeting deadlines or ensuring good test scores to meet students down on their level, and allow them to see that learning can be enjoyable.

However, I don't believe hope is lost. Even if we have to sound out each word in the Bill of Rights, I believe the next generation has the ability to change the world for the better. But they can't do it on their own. So I ask you, America, to slow down so kids don't get left behind. Even if it means doing things that may seem uncomfortable. I see a vision of the libraries full of kids, excited to learn. And our founding documents are more than just pieces of paper, they help us with our future.

Sincerely,
A hopeful American.

From World Affairs Council Philadelphia

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Two hundred fifty years and still becoming a nation with equal opportunity.

Still learning how to be fair-skinned in an unfair world we can be equal without being the same.

But we are forced into silence by a government that doesn't understand our pain.

So here we stand, not at the end, With every choice we make today.

The truth we have to face History is a window to the future.

Its broken parts, the silent pain, we shape the chapters that still remain.

Two hundred fifty years not just a number, Because the future isn’t waiting.

It's forming in what we say, in what we choose, in how we treat each other today.

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Dear America,

Something that makes America great is everyone is allowed to vote, no matter their race, color, or gender. Black Americans used to have to take a literacy test for them to be able to vote, but these tests were meant to be almost impossible to pass. Since these tests were very hard, Black Americans were almost never able to vote. For example, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in SEC. 2 states, “No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.” I love that the United States of America makes everyone feel included and loved. America has so many different holidays to celebrate with each other. I love that America has people with all different skin colors and people from all over the world. Meeting people with different cultures or traditions is really cool because I get to learn how they celebrate holidays that are the same as mine or different. As the country enters its next 250 years, I hope the people in this world try to help homeless people find jobs, shelter, food, etc. By the time the next generation looks back at this letter, I hope that there is less pollution in the world. Currently, there is a lot, especially in the oceans, and if the environment keeps getting more and more polluted, the plants and animals might not survive. Also, we are losing lots of animal species that used to roam in large numbers in nature, but now some species of animals have almost none left. In conclusion, I hope that people in the next generation try to help the plants and animals to thrive again like they used to.

With Love,

Amber

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``You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or a Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.''

Ronald Reagan in a 1989 Presentation Ceremony for the Presidential Medal of Freedom

My family is one of many cultures. My mother’s side, from former Czechoslovakia, my father’s side, from Canada and Ukraine. I am simply the product, a mosaic of Canadian slang and Czech accents, Cossack hats and ice hockey, pierogies and cabbage rolls, and yet I am unapologetically American. I stand proud and perhaps shed a small tear listening to the national anthem at football games, and I give a warm welcome to the troops I see around my rural hometown.

My father, born in Saskatchewan, Canada, is too, a proud American. He saw the palm trees of Los Angeles, the harsh winters of Wisconsin, and the humid summers of Miami, and fell in love with the United States. He is not just a Canadian in America, but he is an American outright.

My mother was born to a military family in Frankfurt, West Germany, where she then moved to the United States and has lived there her entire life. She, too, is as American as my father is, she’ll never let an American flag touch the ground, and that is why I love my country.

As a newly naturalized American - my father would go on to work at UCLA in HIV research and assist in the revolutionary advancements in our understanding of the disease that ravaged the 1980s. He, in a lab full of Americans from all different backgrounds: Canadian, German, and Japanese, came together and accomplished groundbreaking research.

When Carl Sagan, son of a Ukrainian-born immigrant, said “For small creatures such as we, the vastness of space is bearable only through love,” it resonated deeply within me. Perhaps because my Great Uncle Frank worked as a computer scientist at JPL on the Voyager alongside Sagan, or because it deeply connects with how we came together as Americans during the Space Race —through love and cooperation. For the first time in modern history, Women, African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Whites all came together under the collective goal of reaching the moon. And frankly, there’s nowhere else in the world where this collaboration could have happened - because the foundations we’ve built upon in America permit those of all races to cooperate in the pursuit of technological advancement and the bettering of humanity.

Now, at the hour of me putting pen to paper —the 250th year of our nation’s existence —we are under attack. Not by a foe or terrorist, but by ignorance. Ignorance to the strife of immigrants such as those that came before me, those that crafted revolutionary ideas and carried out unthinkable tasks. And now, the question is how do we fight a war of ideology? How do we defend ourselves from disinformation such as how we cannot trust our fellow men and women from other countries?

The answer is simple. We must look to our future generations. Ignorance is habit, and like all habits, can be nipped in the bud with education and action. The future must be a brighter place for our children. We must show them that they must not fear the immigrants that come through our borders in El Paso or Blaine, that walk off the planes at Dulles or JFK, we must show them that immigrants are truly the backbone of our nation. To do this, we must tell the stories of their ancestors who came on the Mayflower, who came from Italy and Great Britain by ship in the 1900s, and who cross our borders from Mexico even today. I have shared with you the immigrant stories of my family. As an American, you must share yours.

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Reflecting on the past and questioning the future.

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Reflecting on the past and questioning the future.

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Dear America,

I wanted to share some bits of my essay, which I wrote in English class about the future of America, from a past perspective.

It’s December 15, 1955, day 15 of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. I am writing this so you won’t forget what this moment feels like. I live in a time where African Americans are refusing to ride the buses in Montgomery, Alabama, after years of unfair treatment and segregation. People are walking miles instead, and every empty bus that passes feels like both a victory and a warning.

Right now, I’m sitting in my room listening to the radio, trying to understand everything that is happening beyond what I can see. The boycott has already cost the bus companies a lot of money, and the pressure is building. But so is the fear, because no one knows how long this will last or what will happen next.

On the radio, I hear stories from people living through the boycott. One woman describes looking out her window and seeing “the buses pass by, all empty.” I have seen the same thing in my mind over and over again. Empty buses rolling through streets that used to depend on us. It makes me feel proud, but also angry, because it took this much sacrifice just to be treated with dignity.

I need to ask you something, honestly. Does it ever get better? Do they ever win this fight for their rights? I hope that by the time you read this, you already know the answer.

I also worry about how these events are being told. I hear different versions of the same stories depending on who is speaking. It makes me wonder how much truth gets changed or softened over time. I hope you remember to question what you hear, because it is easy for people to accept information without checking what is real. Another voice on the radio said something that changed how I think about all of this: “Nonviolence is only nonviolence in a moral climate. Segregation is not a moral climate. That idea stayed with me. The South may call itself peaceful, but I do not think peace exists where people are treated unfairly every day.

I also heard about something heartbreaking that happened in Mississippi. A Black man named Moses Wright testified after witnessing the kidnapping of Emmett Till, yet the men responsible were still found “not guilty”. Moments like that make me question how justice is supposed to work in a country that says it stands for equality.

So I keep writing this letter because I do not want these moments to disappear or be forgotten. I want someone in the future to know what it felt like to live through this, not just the history, but the fear, the hope, and the exhaustion of it all.

Tell me, America, was it worth it? Did anything really change? Did America ever become what it promised it was?

Hang tough,

Kaylyn

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Who Told You You Weren’t Already Free?

Juneteenth is days away. The nation’s 250th anniversary follows close behind. Two celebrations of freedom, arriving in a season where many of us are quietly wondering whether we feel “free” at all. Our citizens are living through conditions that resemble the very terms that nearly caused our divorce. Economic freedom wanes. Our own citizens are somehow being terrorized. Elites and their technocratic allies advance their priorities while ordinary Americans absorb the fallout. Candidly, an anniversary only means something if the relationship has been maintained. No one gets credit for 250 years of marriage when the work stopped decades ago. So before these milestones arrive, we must ask ourselves: how committed are we to actualized democracy?

I grew up believing that my peers and I were the next iteration of the American experiment. That my unique life experience would augment the quest for a “more perfect Union.” Now, as I approach my three-decade mark, I find myself at an impasse. Academia taught us that, as Americans, we are inherently free. Free to express our minds, free to elect representatives who capture our voice. The truth is harder to sit with: democracy was an idea our citizens never fully enforced. We inherited the deed to a house, enjoyed every amenity, and assumed it would need minimal upkeep.

Part of the problem is the modern connotation of the word itself. We’ve become desensitized to the notion of “democracy.” For some, it’s a symbol of government, for others an affiliation with party politics. It’s been used to sell so much for so long that it stopped registering as something we’ve always owned. Try replacing it with “individual agency,” your actual ability to shape the conditions of your own life, and the stakes get more dire. Each rollback of voting rights or increase in executive power is a withdrawal from your account. So is watching the 1% get richer while your paycheck covers less than it did last year. Imagine asking permission to spend your own money while every transaction that clears covers someone else’s rent.

So what changed? The political process became something we follow instead of something we nurture. Not long ago, conservatives balked at federal overreach, the mention of reparations, and excessive government spending. The narrative looks very different today. Federal hands reaching into state elections. Billion-dollar proposals that serve the connected rather than the public. The White House itself altered with little accountability, few guardrails, and no consideration for the citizens it was meant to serve. We didn’t sign anything over. We just stopped opening the statements. We politicized the process until participation shrank to picking a side once a year and arguing about it the rest, and a withdrawal nobody reviews clears every single time. The people who benefit are counting on exactly that. We gave away our agency for no incentive, and we continue to, quite literally, pay the price.

So at what point did we, as Americans, decide we were powerless? Who told us we weren’t already free? Powerlessness was never announced. It was marketed, gradually, until it felt like the natural order. Remember that “we’re not going back” was never just a slogan. It was meant to be a boundary. Black southerners like my grandparents understood that long before it became a chant, navigating a freedom issued with conditions and learning to read the fine print the country pretended wasn’t there. They had every documented reason to believe they were powerless and enforced their freedom anyway. That instinct is an inheritance, available to anyone who still believes their voice carries weight.

In a few days, grills will fire up and fireworks will go off either way. What’s actually undecided is whether we show up to our 250th as people who hold the deed or people still waiting on a landlord who was never coming. Ownership is unglamorous, and the upkeep is constant. It looks like knowing your state legislators by name, since that’s where most decisions about your daily life actually get made. It looks like reading the full ballot before election day instead of in the parking lot. It looks like sitting through a school board meeting or a public comment period, the rooms where agency gets exercised or quietly forfeited. But maintenance is the difference between an anniversary and a postmortem.

Nobody is coming to hand you your freedom, because it was never anyone’s to take. It’s been sitting in your name this whole time.

So again I ask: who told you that you weren’t already free? No matter what your answer may be, they never truly had the authority to.

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Hi America,

I don't know how to say this in a nice way, or in a way that sounds poetic, eloquent, whatever. This is just my unfiltered thoughts.

Look, I can see what you're doing to my neighbors. I know that all of us are supposed to be created equal and "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, [such as] Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness". Go ask someone in an ICE detention center if they feel like they have an unalienable right to liberty. Aren't we failing, then? And don't say that the stuff in the Declaration of Independence was meant to only refer to the colonists. It says all men, by which it should mean all people. If we are depriving people of those unalienable rights, then haven't we failed as a country? Haven't we always been failing as a country? We've never acted like everyone truly has unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Just ask Indigenous Americans of any nation. Just ask Black people. I mean, even now - unalienable right to life? Federal agents shot and killed three people in the last year, and have let many others die through lack of medical treatment and general care. This country's military is dropping bombs on girls' schools. Of course people don't feel patriotic anymore - you never actually held to your values and you're still not holding to them. I'm nonbinary. There is no way I could pursue happiness if I was living in, say, the South. I'm infinitely lucky to be living in California where I can access gender-affirming care.

My expectations for you were never very high, but wow. This is really kind of astonishing. I don't feel like I have a particularly bright future here - and the current health secretary would agree, considering the fact I'm autistic. I'm going to stay and keep working towards an America where everybody can realistically see a successful, happy future for themselves. Yeah, I am a little upset that we, the younger generation, are the ones having to do this. I'm seventeen years old and trying to work anti-ICE protests around my paid internship schedule this summer. But I want to fight for a better America so that for the 350th anniversary, kids can look back and say, "Wow, I can't imagine our government doing stuff like that. The US really used to suck." Because I know that there is something better possible for America, as long as we work for it. And that's what we're going to do.

Please, America, get your shit together or we'll need to step in,

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Dear America,

My name is Mary. I am sixteen years old, and I grew up learning two languages, two cultures, and sometimes even two ways of seeing the same world.

My parents chose this country with hope in their hearts. They came here believing that hard work could build a future, that kindness could cross language barriers, and that their daughter could grow up with opportunities they never had. That daughter is me.

But growing up between cultures is not always easy. At school, I learned how to fit in. At home, I learned where I came from. Sometimes I felt like I belonged to both worlds—and sometimes I felt like I belonged to neither.

Still, this is what I’ve come to understand:
America is not just a place you’re born into. It is something you grow into.

I see America in my community—not just in history books or headlines, but in people. I see it in neighbors who show up when someone is in need. I see it in volunteers packing food for families they’ve never met. I see it in young people stepping up, not because they have to, but because they care.

I’ve tried to do that too.

Through my work as a Girl Scout leader and community volunteer, I’ve helped organize food drives and service projects. When I see hundreds of pounds of food collected, it’s not just about numbers—it’s about dignity, care, and connection. It’s about believing that even small actions, when multiplied, can create something powerful.

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, I find myself wondering:
What kind of country are we becoming?

Will we be a place where differences divide us, or where they make us stronger?
Will we listen to young people, or speak over them?
Will we build a future that includes everyone, or only a few?

From where I stand, I believe in the kind of America that chooses courage over comfort, empathy over fear, and action over silence.

My generation is often told that we are “the future.” But we are also here right now. We are already leading, organizing, and caring about the world around us. We may not have all the answers, but we are ready to ask better questions—and to work for better solutions.

As someone who didn’t start her story in this country but is growing up in it, I carry both gratitude and responsibility. Gratitude for the opportunities I’ve been given. Responsibility to help make those opportunities real for others.

So here is my wish for America:

That we continue to open doors, not close them.
That we learn to see strength in diversity, not division.
That we remember that progress is not something that happens to us—it is something we create, together.

America, you are still becoming.

And I am proud to be part of that story.

Sincerely,
Mary

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Dear America,

With your semiquincentennial mere months away I figured that it would be a good time to share some 250th birthday wishes with you.

As I look forward to the years ahead I want to offer you some advice. I hope from the bottom of my heart that you will take the time to not just read the words on the page, but that you hold them in your hands, sing them in your streets, and enact them in your laws.

1. Let every action that you take be motivated from a place of love.
2. Commit yourself to the pursuit of knowledge. It is through this pursuit that the evil of ignorance can be defeated.
3. Remember the past, and learn from its mistakes.

This July 4th, let the fireworks be a reminder that you are celebrating a future of endless possibilities. Never forget the immense weight of this responsibility. Never forget that you can choose to be a force of good.

With hope,

Zohar

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Dear America,

Two hundred and fifty years. A quarter of a millennium. I am eighteen years old, a Black boy from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, barely old enough to vote, barely old enough to understand what it truly means to stand inside a history this enormous and yet here I am, pen in hand, trying to find the words.

I grew up in a city that was there at the very beginning. Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where the Constitution was written. The Liberty Bell sits down Independence Hall in the city I was raised. . And yet, growing up as a young Black man in this city, I know there is another Philadelphia too. I know the neighborhoods that were redlined, the schools that were underfunded, the corners where young men who looked like me were followed, stopped, and questioned before they were ever heard. I have lived in both of these Philadelphias at once. That is how I learned, early, that America contains multitudes.

I will be honest with you. I was never fully taught your whole story in school. I was taught the Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence. I was taught that "all men are created equal." But I was not always taught about the men and women who were not yet included in that sentence, the ones who built this country with their hands and were never fully written into the celebration. This letter is, in part, my attempt to change that. Because I believe you cannot truly love something you only half know.

The Story That Was Always Here

African American history is not a footnote to American history. It is not a sidebar, not a chapter tucked away in February, not a supplement to the "real" story. It is the spine of this nation. When I think of America at 250, I think of Crispus Attucks a Black man, possibly the first to die in the Boston Massacre, the first to fall for a country that had not yet decided whether he was a person. I think of the 5,000 Black soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War for the promise of a freedom that would not come for nearly another century.

I think of Harriet Tubman, who did not just escape slavery she went back. Nineteen times. She led over 300 people to freedom and said, "I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger." That is not a story about suffering alone. That is a story about courage so absolute it makes the word "brave" feel insufficient. That belongs to America. That IS America.

I think of the engineers, scientists, and visionaries who lifted this nation literally toward the stars. Katherine Johnson calculated the orbital mechanics that sent John Glenn into orbit. Without her mathematics, there is no moon landing. There is no NASA legend. Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space. These are not alternative American stories. These are American stories.

The Contradiction We Must Hold

In America, I am learning in my first year of college that the greatest thinkers do not shy away from contradiction; they wrestle with it until something true comes out. And you, America, are a nation of beautiful, painful contradictions. Thomas Jefferson wrote that all men are created equal while enslaving 600 human beings over the course of his lifetime. The Constitution protected slavery and called enslaved people three-fifths of a person. These are facts. And yet and yet this country also produced Frederick Douglass, who taught himself to read in secret and became one of the most powerful orators in human history. It produced Ida B. Wells, who investigated and documented lynchings at a time when doing so put her life in danger. It produced the Harlem Renaissance, which gave the world Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and a cultural explosion that reshaped art, literature, and music forever.

I hold both of these truths at once. The betrayal and the brilliance. The injustice and the insistence on justice. That is what it means to take this nation seriously.

The Builders Who Were Never Given Full Credit

Historians now estimate that the labor of enslaved Black Americans built between $10 and $14 trillion worth of economic value, the foundation of the wealth that made America a world power. The White House was built by enslaved laborers. The Capitol building was built by enslaved laborers. The railroads, the cotton economy, the agricultural infrastructure of the South all built on the backs of people who were given nothing in return and who, even after emancipation, faced convict leasing, Jim Crow laws, and systematic exclusion from the wealth they helped create.

And still, still they built anyway. Black Wall Street rose in Tulsa, Oklahoma, until it was deliberately destroyed in 1921. The Civil Rights Movement organized, marched, bled, and sang until the law finally, reluctantly moved. John Lewis crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge with cracked bones and an uncracked spirit. These people did not give up on America even when America gave up on them. I think that is the most profound kind of patriotism that has ever existed on this soil.

What I Want For You At 250

I am young. I am a Black boy from Philadelphia who just walked across a graduation stage, still figuring out who I am and what I owe this world. I have watched people I grew up with disappear into systems that were never built to help them. I have also watched people from my neighborhood rise in ways that take your breath away, because that is what Black Philadelphia does. But I know this: a country that tells only part of its story is a country that cannot fully heal, cannot fully grow, and cannot fully become what it promised to be.

At 250, I want you to know your whole self. I want you to walk into the next 250 years with every story accounted for the ones on the monuments and the ones left off of them. I want the names of the unnamed to be spoken. I want the history taught in classrooms to be honest enough to sting and wide enough to inspire. I want every child, of every background, to look at this nation's story and see themselves not as an asterisk, but as a chapter.

Because here is what I believe with everything in me: America was never built by one people. It was built by many. The Indigenous nations who stewarded this land for thousands of years before a single European ship appeared on the horizon. The Chinese laborers who drove iron spikes into the Sierra Nevada mountains to complete the Transcontinental Railroad, often dying in the process, and were then thanked with a law that banned their families from ever joining them. The Mexican and Latino farmworkers who fed this nation, whose hands have touched nearly every piece of fruit and every vegetable on every American table, and who marched behind Cesar Chavez demanding nothing more than dignity. The Jewish immigrants who fled persecution and built communities, cultural institutions, and businesses that enriched every city they touched. The Korean shop owners, the Vietnamese refugees who rebuilt their lives from nothing, the Indian engineers and doctors who have shaped American medicine and technology, the Puerto Rican artists who gave New York its heartbeat. Every wave of people who came to these shores, whether by choice or by force, whether welcomed or turned away at the door, left something of themselves in the foundation of this country. That is not a weakness. That is the whole point.

Happy 250th Birthday, America. As a young Black man from Philadelphia, I have seen your contradictions up close. I have felt the weight of your unfinished promises. But I have also seen the beauty that happens when your many peoples come together, when the son of a sharecropper and the daughter of an immigrant and the grandchild of a refugee all sit in the same classroom and dare to dream the same dream. That is the America worth fighting for. I believe in what you can still become. I believe in the version of you that finally lives up to every word of your founding promise, for every culture, every color, every people who helped build you, for everyone this time, without exception.

With love, grief, hope, and pride,

Tyresse Gordon

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America's almost 250 years old now. I think it's changed a lot, but there's still stuff to fix. I'm happy people get chances here, but there's also problems we gotta fix together.

I hope people in America get along better. Now, it feels like people just care about being different, not what we have the same. We should listen more and be nice, even if we don't agree. If we do that, America will be stronger.

I also hope that every student has a fair chance to succeed. Education is important because it helps young people achieve their goals and contribute to society. Schools should continue to provide students with the tools they need to learn, grow, and prepare for the future.

Another thing I care about is giving young people a voice. Teenagers and children are the future of America, but we can also make a difference right now. Whether it is through volunteering, helping our communities, or sharing ideas, young people should be encouraged to participate and be heard.

As we celebrate 250 years of our nation, I hope America continues to be a place where people can dream big, work hard, and help one another. No country is perfect, but I believe that by working together, we can build a future that is fairer, kinder, and more successful for everyone.

Sincerely,
Tosin

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America is soon to be 250 years old. The first Americans were the ones that created and built the rest of the U.S. as we know it now, by building this nation with a strong belief in large hopes and aspirations. As young people now, we are not stuck looking at the past; We are building the future now and into our future with this new generation of America.

I believe an ideal future for America would be to have a home for everyone to reside together, as a multicultural nation to call home. History has also taught us, that by collaborating with others of diverse backgrounds is great for us all, because when we support others, we become more of a people who have true strength in numbers. True strength does not come from money, or power, or our military; but from how much we care for one another and ensuring that every human being, no matter who they are, has the same rights and respect.

Also, I hope that America continues to be able to lead in addressing the world's issues. Today’s world has so many obstacles to overcome, such as climate change and technological advancements. Young people want to support the world in overcoming these issues. An American future where we don’t only develop new ideas for technological advancements, but also develops all of Mother Earths natural resources, elevates all of the social classes so everyone is equally provided for, and provides every child an opportunity for a quality education.

Letter to America 2026 onwards: This letter is to you as a promise that we will create a better place using our deeds. We can achieve this by uniting to help each other create a bright and fair future for all.

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I’ve always liked two dollar bills, ever since I was two years old and politely (I think) asked the tooth fairy to pay me in them (and also solve a math problem to prove she was truly real). It was years later that I learned my mom had, shall I say, “subbed” in for the tooth fairy with the only two dollar bill she had and held her horror when I took off the stamps that were on it and in the way.

Those stamps were because they were on a bill from 1976 and the bicentennial. My mom had those and a collection of stamped envelopes from each state that she had mailed away for the first day of issues. I realize that she got to experience both the 200th and now the 250th birthday of our country and I will hopefully get to experience the 250th and the 300th birthday so I feel an extra responsibility, and not just leftover guilt from messing up her bill from 1976.

So as I look back on changes from the last 50 years I look ahead to the next. What will change the world like the internet did? Or AI? Mobile phones? How will the world end up even smaller than it already is?

On the plus side, I think that personal space travel is now a when, not an if. I suspect regular air travel will be as easy as car travel is now. So our world will be more accessible than ever before.

On the negative side, I fear jobs may be fewer and less needed. As I enter my senior year, this weighs heavily on me. Will the engineering I hope to pursue still be a profession? Or will we be entering a world like Kurt Vonnegut’s Player Piano?

I also think about what our country itself will be like and how will we treat each other and others in the world. I am concerned by what I see now but am comforted by how in history after each period of strife we came back stronger together.

I think some things will not change. We will keep our humanity, family, and beliefs. And when one day my son or maybe even my grandson writes a ransom note to the tooth fairy, I won’t think twice before I give him a keepsake from the 250th anniversary because no matter what else happens in the future, I have to believe there will always be room for awe and a bit of magic.

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Throughout the tapestry of American history, our nation has faced numerous hardships. Yet, against the relentless flow of adversity, the United States has not only persisted but has emerged stronger each time. A prime example of this resilience can be found during World War II, a period when our country was already crippled and brought to its knees by the Great Depression. Through the combined strength of our leadership and the indomitable spirit of our people, we fought valiantly, won the war, and ultimately overcame the economic despair that had plagued us for nearly a decade.

The true strength of our country does not solely lie in government power or material resources—although we have demonstrated strength in both for over 250 years. Instead, the essence of our nation’s greatness resides in the collective power of our people. It is this unity that has allowed us to enact change and overcome the odds throughout our history.

Consider the Fourth of July, 1776, when our founding fathers came together to declare our sovereignty, breaking free from the oppressive rule of a king. This pivotal moment marked the birth of a nation, and it was not just a declaration on parchment; it was a rallying cry for the people. United in purpose and spirit, ordinary Americans banded together to defend their newfound land. Despite facing the formidable British Empire, they fought with courage and determination, achieving what many considered an unimaginable feat. This victory was not merely the result of military strategies; it stemmed from the collective bravery of individuals who came together to protect what they loved.

Fast forward to June 6, 1944, when approximately 59,000 U.S. troops landed on the beaches of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France. Many soldiers understood that they might not return, yet they charged forward, driven by a sense of duty and camaraderie. On that fateful day, through sheer brotherhood and sacrifice, American forces secured the beaches, paving the way for the liberation of Europe. Within six days, their determination had connected the beaches and forged a path toward victory. This was not just a military operation; it was a testament to the power of unity in the face of overwhelming odds.

The spirit of unity continued to thrive in the years that followed, particularly during the civil rights movement spearheaded by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. Through acts of civil disobedience and peaceful protests, a nation divided by racial injustice began to come together. Americans of all races united in their demand for equality and justice, demonstrating that love and solidarity could triumph over hatred and division. The protests and advocacy for civil rights reshaped our society, leading to significant legislative changes that aimed to foster a more inclusive nation.

Moreover, the struggle for women’s suffrage represents another chapter in this ongoing saga of unity and resilience. Women across the country banded together, fighting tirelessly for their right to vote. Their determination and solidarity ultimately resulted in the passage of the 19th Amendment, a significant milestone in the quest for equality that showcased the power of collective action.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation, it is essential to reflect on the lessons history has taught us. Our enduring strength lies not only in our physical prowess or economic might but in the power of our citizens to come together in times of need. In a world that often seems divided, we must remember the importance of unity—of standing together as brothers and sisters, irrespective of our differences.

This anniversary should serve as a reminder that we have triumphed over adversity not through hatred or division, but through love and peace. As we celebrate 250 years of independence, let us honor the sacrifices of those who came before us by continuing to foster a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. Let us strive to be a nation that champions unity and compassion, a beacon of hope in a world that sometimes feels fractured.

In this journey of resilience, it is vital that we carry forward the legacy of those who fought for our freedoms and rights. It is through our collective efforts that we can continue to build a stronger, more equitable nation for generations to come. The true strength of America lies within each of us, and it is our duty to ensure that the spirit of unity endures, guiding us through any challenges that may lie ahead.

As we look back on our history, let us celebrate not only our victories but also the unwavering spirit of our people who have always come together in times of hardship. United, we can face any challenge and emerge stronger, embodying the very essence of what it means to be American.

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America, you are turning 250 years old. And I need to be honest with you.

I am the son of immigrants. My parents came to this country with nothing but a hardworking mindset and a belief that if they worked hard enough, this place would meet them halfway. For years, we struggled. We moved around. We made it work with whatever we had. And now, we live in a good neighborhood, in a good home, the ones my parents dreamed about crossing a border for.

But here is what nobody tells you about making it. The injustice does not disappear just because your zip code changes.

I still walk into rooms where people are surprised by how I look. I still see my community talked about like we are a problem rather than people who built this country brick by brick. My parents pay taxes, love their neighbors, and have never asked for anything except to be treated fairly and the same as others. However, still there are people in this nation who look at them and see something less than American.

That is not freedom. That is not the promise.

250 years ago, a group of men wrote that all people are created equal. They did not mean it for everyone then. But that does not mean we cannot mean it now. My generation, brown kids, Black kids, immigrant kids who grew up counting change for groceries, we are not waiting for permission to belong here. We already belong here. We helped build here.

So America, as you celebrate this milestone, I am not asking you to be perfect. I am asking you to be honest. Honest about who has been left out. Honest about who has been carrying the weight. And bold enough to finally make equality real, not just something written years ago.

I believe you can do it. My parents did too. That belief cost them everything.

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The Nation Decides: Lincoln and McClellan in 1864

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The Nation Decides: Lincoln and McClellan in 1864

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The presidential election of 1864 took place during one of the most uncertain periods of the Civil War. Many voters initially doubted whether the current office-holder could secure re-election while the nation had still remained divided and the conflict continued. Despite these doubts, Abraham Lincoln achieved a decisive victory. His success resulted from Union military progress, voter reactions to the Democratic platform, and broad electoral support that reaffirmed confidence in democratic government.

Union military developments played a central role in shaping public opinion. By late 1864, the Union had achieved significant successes that had changed perceptions of the war’s trajectory. Campaign literature published by the National Union Executive Committee emphasized the decreasing territorial control of the Confederacy and the collapsing of Southern infrastructure and equipment. The growing strength of Union armies and naval forces were also an important factor in these victories. Later historians supported this interpretation, noting that Union victories in 1864 under Ulysses S. Grant’s strategies had strengthened Northern morale and improved Lincoln’s political prospects. Such developments reassured voters that continued enactment of the war was justified and even potentially winnable.

Though in contrast, the Democratic Party’s Chicago Platform had adopted a different interpretation of the ongoing war. The platform stated that the war was a failure and demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities. This stance most likely weakened support for the Democratic candidate, George B. McClellan, by suggesting that the years of sacrifice had produced little progress. Many Northern voters interpreted the ideas for negotiated peace as incompatible with preserving the Union. The platform’s criticism of wartime policies, including military authority and civil liberties, had highlighted separations between Democratic leaders and those who believed military victory remained essential.
Visual political commentary reinforced these contrasts. Contemporary cartoons portrayed Lincoln as a defender of liberty and unity, while his opponents appeared associated with disunion or weakness. This imagery simplified political debates into symbolic narratives that proved easily understood by all types of voters. These images helped people understand the differences between the candidates and influenced how voters felt about them.

Electoral results demonstrated the full extent of Lincoln’s support. On November 8, 1864, more than four million voters participated in the election. Lincoln won a majority of the popular vote and had dominated the Electoral College, while the Republican-aligned National Union Party expanded its representation in Congress. The strong support from Union soldiers showed confidence in Lincoln’s leadership and war strategies. The election was not only a choice of president but also a demonstration that the government could function even during the rebellion.

Ultimately, Lincoln’s victory came from successive military circumstances, voter responses to Democratic proposals, and widespread electoral participation. Union victories had created hope, while the Democrats’ demands for an immediate end to the war seemed less convincing to many voters.” The election ultimately demonstrated the resilience of democratic institutions even during civil conflict.

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Dear America,

Today we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. We look around us looking at all the big achievements we have made, and paths we have crossed to get us where we wanted to be today.

The 250th of America is a time to celebrate, as we celebrate that the World Cup will be hosted here. Bringing people together from all over the world. Different backgrounds and cultures, but we are all united by one sport, football or soccer, regardless of where we came from.

We celebrate the 250th anniversary of America, so let us all surround and support each other in unity. We will learn from one another different cultures, foods, and greetings. This is what makes our nation better and stronger

Warm regards,

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When I came to this country,

I noticed at first sight the differences

different people, cultures, lifestyles,

art, houses, streets, and opportunities.

I continued my studies, made friends,

participated in clubs, doing extra activities,

play some sports, get the best scores,

meet an ephemeral love, get my first job,

do different fieldtrips, get counseling,

Look for what I like, look for the college,

start doing applications, get accepted,

complete my exams and graduate,

I started college and got a second job,

meet new people, new teachers, new counselors,

get more related to arts and community,

participated in different programs, a lot of volunteers, painting some murals, cleaning some streets, playing with kids.

Participating with organizations,

make me feel connected with the community, not only mine, the whole different communities, making connection

learning traditions, expressions.

Since I am in this country

I started noticing the bad side,

Watching segregation, discrimination and fault of coexistence.

I started looking for a change, collaborating with others,

Study to be able to represent those who don't have any help.

I started teaching people of how to make a change,

Look  for the others and create a better community.

I started looking in the future for a really UNITED country,

that is open to everyone and it’s for everyone.

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Dear America,

You have never been endangered by your progress, only by the urge to undo it. You were born owing a debt: a promise written saying all men were created equal. Everything good that has happened to you comes from an urge to stay true to that promise. Not from a perfect founding, a city on a hill, or the pride of victory. People hated you for changing, for making yourself more inclusive, for becoming a melting pot. People resisted lifting that lamp beside the golden door. That effort, to uphold the promises of our democratic nation, is the only patriotism I believe in.

My parents came to your land from India over two decades ago, carrying the same belief that pulled immigrants towards you for the past two and a half centuries. They believed that the conditions you were born into, what your future held, what your looks said about you, did not define who you will become. See, you didn’t always let people like that into your country. Your beacon hand refused to glow for many. Yet after many years, they came into a nation where they built a life that would not be possible in the country they left. They were not wrong to believe in you.

My nation, now you are turning 250. There is no grey to be seen on your face, yet a past tainted by mistakes and painted by successes remains. Let not your age choose your fate, and be reminded of what your openness made. You have grown your scope to each corner of the globe, so why at 250 do you regress and block the paths that brought us change? The same doors that a generation of foreigners walked through are creaking. People who were told this was their home are asked to prove it once more. The American Dream does not come from one race. It thrives on the diversity of the populace that composes it. I am not writing to mourn you; I am writing to remind you of your rich traditions. Every generation has paid down that debt of yours, bringing you closer to the promise you were born owing. May the document that made you never fall, and may the huddled masses continue to breathe free.

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Dear America,

America is great because with enough hard work, anyone can be anything. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, "I cannot consent to take the position that the door of hope—the door of opportunity—is to be shut upon any man, no matter how worthy, purely upon grounds of race or color". Another thing that makes America great is democracy, which is the best form of government in the world. I also really appreciate the great education system I have the privilege to benefit from. One more thing I like about America is the diversity. There are all races of people everywhere, which brings new experiences and makes life interesting. By the next generation, I hope to see great advances in technology, specifically medicine, for the benefit of all humanity, and a new mindset that encourages peace, not war. I also hope America does not use it's great technological advancement for war. I envision an America where no one is discriminated against, which we've made great progress towards, but have not reached yet. I trust that violence, specifically against children, will be greatly decreased, and that we are contributing greatly to the fight against climate change. However, I have one more thing to say. I feel that we should always keep our founding principles at mind, and ensure that we follow the Founding Fathers' intents, even though even they were not perfect. I feel that we have started to stray a little from those ideals, and that we should attempt to get back on track. In summary, the idea of America is great, and the execution is pretty good, but we should strive to make the reality great.

With Love,

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Young Americans launch 'Letters to America'

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Young Americans launch 'Letters to America'

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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Made By Us, a national coalition of hundreds of museums, historic sites and cultural institutions, is launching a new youth-driven civic initiative inviting the next generation to define what America should become.

Through "Letters to America," young people ages 14 to 30 are being called on to share their vision for the country's future through essays, videos, speeches and art - putting forward their own declarations at a pivotal moment in the nation's history.

Selected letters will be elevated by media partners, museums and civic organizations nationwide as part of National Youth Takeover Day on June 27, 2026, when youth voices will take center stage across platforms, public spaces and cultural institutions.

Organizers say the initiative is designed to shift how the 250th anniversary is shaped - moving beyond official commemorations and toward a more participatory, youth-driven vision of the country's future.

"Young people are not just inheriting the future - they are actively defining it," said Alex Edgar, youth engagement manager at Made By Us and co-founder of Youth250. "Letters to America is about creating space for this generation to speak for itself, in its own words, and to be heard at a national level."

The launch builds on a growing national effort to engage young people in shaping the story of the United States at a historic milestone. Through related activations like Wish Walls, town halls and civic programming across the country, thousands of young people are already contributing their perspectives on issues including affordability, identity, safety, climate and belonging.

In addition to submitting letters, young people can:

* Participate in local activations and Wish Wall installations

* Share their work with media outlets, schools and community platforms

* Partner with organizations to amplify youth voices locally

* Join the Youth250 Content Corps, a national network of more than 300 young creators producing stories, videos and commentary about the country's past, present and future

Organizers say the goal is about participation and visibility, ensuring that youth perspectives are reflected in the national conversation as the 250th anniversary approaches.

Youth250 is led by Made By Us and made possible through support from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, PolicyLink, the Hearthland Foundation and the Bezos Family Foundation.

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Young Americans launch 'Letters to America'

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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Made By Us, a national coalition of hundreds of museums, historic sites and cultural institutions, is launching a new youth-driven civic initiative

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"Another Made by Us project, called Letters to America, asks Gen Z to reflect on what the country means to them.

In the dozens of letters posted so far, high school students and young people in their 20s grapple with the promise of America and their complicated feelings about the country’s past.

Like Jawali and Singh, 16-year-old Annalise Huang is the child of immigrants. She was drawn to the Letters to America campaign to express her complicated feelings about the country that became a flashpoint between her and her grandfather, who immigrated from China to Ecuador before settling in the United States.

In her letter, “A New Patriotism,” she described a very different kind of patriotism from what Trump has touted. The president has called for teaching children to “love our country, honor our history and always respect our great American flag.”

“I am a patriot not for my unwavering support of America’s actions,” Huang wrote, “but rather my relentless devotion to make this country better.”

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Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Sunlen Serfaty

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These teens are vying to win Trump's civics contest. Some have mixed feelings about patriotism and the president | CNN Politics

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Earlier this year, Ishant Jawali, a 16-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, was scrolling on Instagram when he stumbled upon a little-known way to win money for college: The Trump administration was putting on a national civics contest for America's 250th birthday.

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Silence Won’t Save The American Dream, So I’m Speaking Up

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Silence Won’t Save The American Dream, So I’m Speaking Up

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Silence Won’t Save The American Dream, So I’m Speaking Up

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As the country turns 250, this is what’s on my mind.

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I mourn for the world I was promised

I was told the world was made for me

My country was the most powerful

My race was the best

My religion was the strongest

My political beliefs the greatest

My schooling was amazing

I was wide eyed and full of optimism

Living in the USA

White

Christian

Conservative

Homeschooled

I was a woman

Made for motherhood and caring for the home

But even with that what was the detriment of being a woman when I has so much else going for me

I mourn for the world I was promised

I don’t regret the knowledge that led me away from the path I grew up on

But I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that I sometimes wish for the blissful ignorance I had back then

Physical tears don’t come often

I was told not to cry so many times growing up that it takes a lot to get them out of me

I mourn for the world I was promised

I have grown and the world I now inhabit was not made for me

My country is not the most powerful

But I’m sure I want it to be anymore

My whiteness puts me in proximity to power that I don’t want but am given anyway

My religion is gone

My faith has been lost

A crumbled book that no longer dictates my life

My political beliefs are a minority even though you think they wouldn’t be

Who knew wanting everyone to have basic human rights and their needs met would be so controversial

I have re-taught myself everything I missed the first time around

I am Queer and don’t hide it

I often wonder at the contradictions of where I live

How so many still love where they live when we have done so much harm

Is it simply blissful ignorance

Love in spite of

Sometimes I wonder how it is different than defending an abusive partner

I mourn for the world I was promised

I do not love America

I used to

I was raised on the red white and blue

We the people meant me and you

Sunshine and roses and the world in my hands

God

Gold

Glory

Endless land

I mourn for the world I was promised

I was told the world was made for me

But how do you love a place that won’t love you back

When I rejected it

It rejected me

I mourn for the world I was promised

I don’t want to be doom and gloom

But unfettered optimism simply isn’t my mood

I often feel myself swayed by the strongest voices in the room

I feel like I’m not doing enough

But then I’m reminded that I’m some else’s radical leftist and I feel like I don’t know anymore

I mourn for the world I was promised

But a new world is coming

One way or another

Maybe the next one will be better

But that’s a big promise to keep

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No Filter Needed - Embracing America's True History

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No Filter Needed - Embracing America's True History

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University of Central Florida, Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL

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The America Gen Z Inherited Is Exhausting, But We Still Have Hope

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The America Gen Z Inherited Is Exhausting, But We Still Have Hope

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The America Gen Z Inherited Is Exhausting, But We Still Have Hope

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A college senior reflects on coming of age in survival mode.

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Announcing Letters to America: Perspectives from the Next Generation Shaping America's 250 Years

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Announcing Letters to America: Perspectives from the Next Generation Shaping America's 250 Years

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My Dearest America,

As we enter the semiquincentennial, I think about the words we used to say without hesitation: “One nation under God.” “In God we trust.” These weren’t just slogans or mottos. These statements reflected a belief that our freedom, dignity, and unity came from something… Someone… Someone higher than ourselves.

We weren’t holier than thou, and we clearly are not today, but we knew our strength had to rest on a foundation bigger than human will. It’s not that hard to see how our nation has drifted from that foundation.

Today, our nation is divided, tired, and overwhelmed. We argue about money, rules, leaders, and rights. We blame each other for everything that feels wrong. Somewhere along the way, we traded the foundation that once supported us for hollow things, things that will wither away. Sadly, our national identity is defined by politics.

I believe the next chapter of this nation will depend on young people like me, and we must not wait for someone else to fix things. We must take responsibility for the state of our country, but we need wisdom, guidance, and above all, humility. These qualities cannot come from within ourselves alone. These qualities can only come from God because He is the only One who cannot be swayed by the fragile emotions that so often mislead us.

And to our current and future leaders, I hope you remember that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about serving with humility. It’s about knowing that no matter who sits in any office, there is a throne higher than all of us, a throne that doesn’t shift with culture, trends, or election results. A throne that has never been empty.

I know I haven’t lived long compared to many. But in the years I’ve been given, there is one truth I’ve learned with absolute certainty: hope is not found in politics.

Real hope is found in a Person. The One who has carried us through storms, corrected us when we strayed, and offered grace when we failed.

His name is Jesus.

And my prayer is that America remembers Him again, so that we can become an America that fears the Lord. A 250-year-old America that is steady, rooted, and strengthened by the only One who can hold us together.

God bless America

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This past week was my 30th birthday. I live south of LA without a car, and walked my dog to Goodwill. I put him in a cart and went shopping for something red. The Goodwill employee came over with sweaters and fussed over him, making him cozy and comfortable. We got to chatting and she ended up gifting me a red Radio Flyer wagon from her own collection so that I no longer have to carry him when he loses stamina. (See, he's a 16-year-old Pekingese, so this wagon is a GAMECHANGER for both of our backs, not to mention my grocery hauls 😅).

The next day, I took the wagon out for a spin again — this time loaded with the piles of clothes I'd been meaning to donate. On the way, I noticed the handle was missing a hex nut. It was still functional as long as I didn't turn left. After dropping everything off at Goodwill, I headed to the hardware store to get the missing part, stopping along the way for a smoothie and some snacks.

Not having a car has made living in the LA area difficult, to say the least. There’s a constant rotation of impossible choices between Uber Eats, Amazon, Target, the ever-elusive public transportation system, or walking 13,000 steps just to get groceries or one meal to hold me over for the next few days. Sometimes it feels like there’s never a right answer, only different versions of the wrong one. Save money, save the planet, save myself from starvation, malnutrition, or bad mental health. Work harder, leave earlier, don’t complain, speak your truth, and on and on and on.

At the smoothie place, the cashier and I had a great lil’ convo. At the snack place, the employee searched around the store trying to find a spare hex nut for me. Then the hardware store fixed the wagon, checked the tires, and aired them up too. I might not remember a lick of what we talked about, but the sense of community I get from these interactions stays with me.

It’s days like these that remind me to put down my phone and live a little — and yes, I need those reminders about as much as my dog needs pets. I think we all do. I don’t know what America will look like in the next 250 years, or even one year from now. I don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow or what I’m eating for lunch today, but I do know how much these small interactions matter. They make the world feel a little less lonely, a little less transactional, and a little more human. I choose to believe we’re all just out here trying our best with what we have.

The story my community has to tell is that people are a lot kinder to each other than the internet would have you believe. And sometimes all it takes is a wagon, a missing hex nut, and a few strangers willing to help to remind you of that.

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Dear America

On a summer day in Independence Hall Philadelphia the final text was written, and you were born. 56 of your fathers from 13 colonies would eventually witness your birth. But what has changed in 250 years? What do you represent?

For some, your birthday is about BBQ, apple pie, hamburgers, hotdogs, & fireworks. For others they hear your name and think peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fast food, McDonalds,obesity, Wall Street, money, and rock and roll. But America, do you remember the blood, sweat and tears that your citizens had to go through to severed ties from King George III? How about the Battle of Gettysburg where 50,000 of your sons died to keep those states united?

Dear America, what do you stand for? Is it capitalism? Freedom? The Declaration of Independence & the Constitution which spoke about preserving individual rights was also written during a time of slavery. And yet, we used that same language to break away from those chains, did we not? You’re the mother to Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, the Wright Brothers, Walt Disney, Martin Luther King, and much more. You’re the land where the right to peaceful protest can happen, where we can practice whatever religion we believe in without being persecuted. In you, even the most heinous perpetrator still has the right for fair legal representation. Woman can vote, drive, go to school, and don’t have to be accompanied by a male companion. You are the land where sex changes can happen, and people are allowed to marry whomever they want. You’re what they think of when they hear the words freedoms.

Dear America, what happened to the time where the word “communist” was taboo? There are so few politicians that can even represent you and what you stand for. They’re hypocrites for they live here but hate you. But that’s how you are. You’re like a mother who forgives, you accept everyone because in this land you will not be imprisoned by your beliefs. You are the land where every flag can be waved not just yours.

Dear America, oh but you are not so perfect after all. You’ve been home to the KKK, discrimination, slavery, racism, lynchings, sexism, guns, mass shooting, mental health crisis, and a demand for drugs like no other country. Whats with this desire of imperialism? Why are there more people dying due to gun violence than anywhere else in the world? It’s a cancer all right, that’s grown but curable. For it is the people who choose their representatives not you. It’s ok, others may not but I forgive you because in the end love, justice and peace will always prevail.

America, when I think of you, I think of freedom. Freedom to become anyone you want to be. Opportunities like nowhere else in the world. A New World where only you set your own limitations and thus, the only thing stopping you from what you want, is yourself. I think Lady Liberty and all of those who came on boats and registered on Ellis Island in search for a better life. Thank you for welcoming my parents and giving them the opportunity to watch their daughters accomplish everything they couldn’t back home. You’re my reminder that this is the land of opportunity and if you work hard, any dream can come true.

Dear America, may the red, white, and blue live on. May freedom ring through the Liberty Bell.

In God we trust that we’ll uphold those values, protect those rights, and everything you represent. And that is: That all peopleare created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Happy Birthday America, the beautiful.

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In 250 years, for the year 2276, in my opinion the United States wont be as strong like today. Even though it is a very powerful country now, many years of wars and conflicts can make it weaker over time. These problems don’t just affect other countries, but also the people inside the United States.

One big problem is the involvement of the United States in conflicts with Iran and problems related with Israel. These situations already cause tension and violence. If this continue for a long time, it can cost a lot of money and damage the economy. War is very expensive, and the country will have less money for schools, hospitals, and other important things.

Also, these conflicts can divide the people. Some people support war, and others don’t, so this makes arguments and political problems. When a country is divided, it become harder to make good decisions and stay strong.

At the same time, other countries could grow faster while the United States is busy with wars. They can focus on technology, education, and development. Because of that, the United States might lose power and influence in the world.

In conclusion, in 250 years the United States couldnt be “really good” as today. Continuous wars, especially with Iran and issues involving Israel, can make the country weaker, more divided, and less important in the world.

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I remember when I was younger and learning about darker parts of history for the first time. I was lucky to grow up in a very excepting and diverse environment, so all of those concepts: racism, sexism, homophobia, they all seemed so alien. Especially on the scale that they were on.

When I went to a museum exhibit all about the AIDS epidemic, and how the government failed to act, I felt proud to grow up in a time where, as I thought, things like that didn't happen anymore. Growing up we were always taught about these things in the past, shown images in black and white, if we were even told about that at all. I really thought we had moved past the completely illogical discrimination that seemed so impossible to me to rationalize. But as I've grown up, over the last few years especially, I've come to realize I was wrong.

So as much as I want to spout off all these fantastical, science fiction or utopian ideas for where the world might be at in two hundred and fifty years, as much as I want to shoot for the moon and hope that this country will become something completely unrecognizable and change entirely for the better, all I can honestly say is that in that time, I really really hope that when a little kid learns about the atrocities and prejudice of the past and cannot even begin to fathom them happening anymore, when they think, "I'm sure glad that doesn't happen anymore," I just hope that they're right.

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How America has been suppressing us silently

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How America has been suppressing us silently

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Our country that we live in is abundant in disliking and arguing. Why do we have to be so filled with hatred? Anything that anyone does is simply disliked, viewed among many people. Why can’t we all, including both America and external countries, all just be loved together, filled with peace and justice? Many people even think it’s a disgrace to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. People our age, high schoolers, won’t even stand up for this country.

What also shocks me is that no one can do anything about it. Young students and citizens of this country are voided and silenced. Our message cannot be spoken unless we are heard. Let’s look at some examples. Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban simply for speaking up for girl’s education, and that resulted in her becoming a powerful activist for not only education, but also for human rights. Greta Thunberg realized that there was a lack of action to protest for climate change and its environmental issues, she started her movement called “Fridays for Future”, allowing her to give out the message of urging action towards the government, as well as a school strike. Martin Luther King Jr, in which many people know about, stood up and fought for racial equality, voting rights to all African Americans, and the end of segregation, all while being a non-violent resistance.

Notice what these three activists have in common? They had something that tried to silence them. Even though they had obstacles to prevent them, they persevered, and continued towards what they believed in. And this isn’t just for these three people: it’s for everyone that has experienced an issue that tried to push us down. These people, along with many other activists and protesters around the globe, are inspirations to all of us, not just the young generation.

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President Lincoln's Cottage, Rock Creek Church Road Northwest, Washington, DC

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Letter to America: Angelina Johnson at the Lincoln Ideas Forum 2026

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Letter to America: Angelina Johnson at the Lincoln Ideas Forum 2026

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PRESIDENT LINCOLNS COTTAGE IDEAS FORUM 2026

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As a college student today, it’s hard to imagine what the next 250 years might look like from now. The world is changing already with technology, culturally, and the environment. It is still able to make an educational guess on what might happen.

One of the biggest changes might be about how people might travel and live. Cities will advance and will become environmentally friendly with buildings that generate their own energy and spaces designed for nature. Transportation could become increasingly faster and efficient.

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In my ideal America, we have turned the clock on climate change and brought back our beautiful national parks and nature in general throughout the United States of America.

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This is my letter to America

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Flagler College, King Street, St. Augustine, FL

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Letter To America: What I Hope A Better America Looks Like

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Letter To America: What I Hope A Better America Looks Like

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Letter To America - Riley Wills - 04_26_2025

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Climate Change in our country in 250 Years

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Name: The Future Should Still Be Human.

Personally, I have no idea how the world will look in 250 years, but neither does anyone else. It is not possible to envision a world we are to live in when we are living in one today that is constantly changing. Since everything has changed with technology, like the creation of artificial intelligence, it is hard to tell what will happen next. I would rather not attempt to predict the future, but rather make my future all that it can be by using my full potential and the skills that I have acquired from others over the years.

When I was a little girl, life used to feel more real. Not in the sense that it was strict or predictable, but it felt more magical and connected. People took the time to engage in conversations, as opposed to impersonal and over the phone communication. Times were more precious, people were present, and it felt like you were heard. Nowadays, a lot of individuals are under pressure at all times and this is because of what technology has done to our mindsets. Social media compels us to make comparisons of our lives, our bodies and our successes. It created a world in which people feel that they are never good enough and have to compare themselves to the people they see through a screen. It can lead to an unhealthy level of insecurity and negativity. We think that if do exactly what the people we see on the media doing, it will cure our happiness or fix the insecurities that we have. In reality, what makes us really happy is those we surround ourselves with because life is all about the little moments. Most people do not understand this because they prioritize money or attempting to become perfect through the medias eyes over their happiness.

This continuous stress can lead people to lose their identity and a sense of who they truly are. This can be seen through the newer generation. As they grow older they do not know what they are passionate about or how to achieve their goals. They simply follow the trends by copying what is popular and let the media decide what is best for them. Success is not about money or power, but about being happy with what you have in your life. It is supposed to be about being satisfied, having purpose, and living a life worth living.

Like I previously mentioned, one of the largest transformations of our world is the creation of artificial intelligence. While it can enable us to work, learn, and solve problems quicker than ever before, it also has a downside. It tempts people allowing it do work for them and is another way to lose ones identity. Knowing this, it asks an important question, will we begin to substitute actual human connection for this artificial intelligence? Based on our history we tend to follow the crowd and take the easy way out. We also lead by example, so will this kind of upbringing teach our children to depend on others to do things for them? Do we want them to see us talking to machines rather than people? Emotions cannot be substituted by algorithms, they are genuine and direct, while machines are smart, that is the one thing we have that they do not. That is why we must use technology to assist us, and not to replace the actual relationships, empathy and understandings that we create ourselves. For example, the most miscommunications happen over text. This is simply because you cannot hear the emotions in the persons voice or see their body language to tell you how to react or respond.

I do not simply desire my America to be better in the future, but to be more humane, more connected. A venue where people will feel comfortable to talk openly and face to face with one another. While also remembering to treat one another with kindness and respect. After all the golden rule is to treat others the way you want to be treated. Machines and technology will not reciprocate emotions like a person can. My America is located where success is not just about money, but happiness, purpose, and meaning. It will be a place where individuals can feel comfortable being themselves without continually feeling the need to be perfect and compare anything about themselves to another person. Avoiding the development of insecurities in the first place. Eliminating this problem will result in a happier, more unified America that does not rely on technology to solve our issues.

I also wish to have a future where everyone is in less of a hurry. Where we appreciate real experiences, real talk, and real relationships more. Not just small talk, but conversations that make hours feel like minutes. A world that does not involve technology controlling people or allowing them to avoid confrontation, but it is used wisely. We can slow down, listen to those around us, and create these relationships that can bloom into so much more.

While we do not know what will happen in the next 250 years, what we do have is the power to create a new life, on that centers around those we care about, not the screen in front of our eyes. The future does not need to be smarter or faster, but kinder, more straightforward, and more human. These small, genuine actions will lead us to advancements that can result in a smart and efficient world.

Real progress is not merely in what we see others doing, or what the media tells us, but in who we are and what we make of our interactions with others. These are the little things in life that I spoke about earlier, and it leads to progress in both ourselves and future. Generations to come will follow these examples and learn to not lean so much on technology and artificial intelligence, but those around them for love and support.

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America 250th AI

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Our Southern Youth Have Something to Say

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Our Southern Youth Have Something to Say

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“The South got something to say” This quote, simple and electrifying, was shared by Andre 3000 at the 1995 Source Awards during the height of the East versus West coast hip hop rivalry.

Andre 3000 was part of the famous music duo Outkast, hailing from Atlanta and making music that didn’t fit the mold of the hip hop scene at the time. As the duo climbed to the stage to receive the award for Best New Artist (group), boos echoed through the crowd, all aimed at these Southern outsiders.

Gen Z wasn’t even around yet to hear the audience’s discontent and Andre 3000’s declaration in 1995, but these words have echoed in my own Gen Z brain since I was old enough to hear and remember them.

I was raised in rural Southern Appalachia, a place that is too often forgotten, stigmatized, underfunded, and underestimated. Living far out in the country meant less access to quality food and healthcare. It meant feeling like the rest of the world was happening somewhere you couldn't quite reach.

But the South was also beautiful to me. My neighbors were all so different from one another, whether it be income or immigration statuses, sexualities, or races, this variety is what I loved most about where I came from. My neighbors baked for one another, laughed, argued, celebrated, all while being so different. As folks like to say, the South is not a monolith, and that’s what made it worth fighting for.

But too many folks who became educated left our region in the pursuit of bigger opportunities in a larger city. I watched friends and family members graduate from college and look North or West. "You want to make money or a name for yourself? You have to leave the South." As a child, I had a front row seat to brain drain.

It’s been over 30 years since Andre 3000 declared the South, and more specifically Atlanta, was THE place to look for rising talent and creativity. In these 30 years, we’ve seen Atlanta and the Southern region grow, with too many great stars and leaders to even name, but we are still seeing pain and underinvestment in our communities. States in the Southern region are consistently ranked among the least educated, highest in food insecurity, highest in maternal mortality — the list goes on.

But I envision a South that keeps aiming towards a prosperous future. One where our youth can dream big, become overly educated, overly passionate, overly artistic, and can live a prosperous life in the area their families have called home for generations. I want the world to see the Southern United States as more than a region full of pain and stereotypes, and also as an epicenter of culture and national movements and joy.

Andre 3000 was just 20 years old when he walked onto that stage at Madison Square Garden and told a room full of people who didn't believe in him that the South had something to say. He was right then, and thirty years later, Southern youth still do.

So as you plan for the 250th, I'm asking you to find and connect with our Southern youth. Go to places that don't have the biggest stages or the easiest access. Be creative about how you reach and interact with rural communities, small towns, places that have been underestimated before and know exactly what that feels like and what to do about it. Involve Southern youth not as an afterthought but as a source of innovation and creativity. I promise what they've got to say is worth hearing.

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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. But at what cost?

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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. But at what cost?

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Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But at what cost?

Yes, I am an American and I have always lived in the United States. I have had the privilege to travel the world, to Nepal and India, to South Africa and Thailand. I have seen amazing places and experienced breathtaking cultures, but I am from the United States. I am incredibly lucky to be from here, where democracy is valued and my voice is heard.

But lately, I feel more uncertain about my place here. I feel uncertain of the safety of my neighbors who are immigrants. I feel uncertain of using my voice to express my concerns. I know that there are people living in the United States in fear of being separated from their loved ones, being torn away without being able to say goodbye. Having to fear this is not fair, not right. I wish that our country was not so divided. I wish that despite political differences, humanity and compassion prevailed.

The United States has so much potential and beauty. Patriotism remains strong, but are we taking pride in the right things, the good things? We should be proud of our landscapes and our neighbors. We should take pride in the diverse cultures that bless our country.

In fact, the American Dream should not just be a dream. It should be an achievable reality. Instead of building borders and using hateful rhetoric when speaking of immigrants, we should have open arms and welcoming words. We should be a safe place in times of violence and fear. We should not invoke violence and fear ourselves.

So how do we achieve this compassion and humanity? We must not identify immigrants and minorities as one monolithic identity here in the US, but address the culture and dreams that they bring to the United States. We must not let political parties divide us and distract us from real problems that plague the US. We should not engage in hateful and negative rhetoric that inflicts fear and danger on minorities. Only then can we make progress to build the United States into a country that embodies life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This should be our goal on the 250th anniversary of the United States.

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Anniversaries like the Semiquincetennial this year are times when we reflect on how we got here and what promises have been fulfilled and which ones haven’t. It’s during this year that we should imagine possibilities about what our country should be in the next 250 years. Here’s a possibility of what our country should aim for the next milestone.

One is to have a strong public transportation system. Compared to other countries in the world, we lag behind in terms of ridership. The infrastructure that we now have such as highways, buses, and rail transit have been in poor condition. It would be nice in the next couple of years for cities to modernize and invest in infrastructure. Maybe they could bring back trolleys in order to entice people to use the public transportation system. Congress should invest in a plan that can bring high speed rail that is common in places like Europe to this country so people don’t always have to rely on airplanes.

Another is a complete ban on AI. Artificial Intelligence has shown itself to be a problem more than a boon. We are seeing that AI has created problems such as job displacement, threaten the livelihood of creative professionals, and impairing skills such as critical thinking. There has to be action from both the grassroots and in the halls of power to make sure that AI is completely banned from use. To ban it is to save humanity and preserve civilization. It would also be nice to see a climate where one job is enough to pay the bills. Today, many have to work two or more jobs in order to make ends meet. Even with those multiple jobs, it may not be enough to pay the necessary bills. The next 250 years should see a movement to create an economic climate so that one job is enough for a wage earner to survive and make the payments.

We should also see a revitalization of the Humanities. Over the years, STEM has been geared a lot towards the youth today because of the offers of high salaries and job security. As a result, Humanities has taken a bit of a beating. It would be nice in the next few years or so to emphasize the importance of the Humanities. Now, I’m not downplaying the importance of STEM and the people who major in them. They have just as much worth and dignity as any other human being. But I want to note humanities can foster important skills such as empathy, communication, creativity, and problem solving in a way that automation can’t and can also benefit STEM itself.

And finally, we should bring back third spaces into public life. As a member of Gen Z, I’ve witnessed the erosion of third spaces from life. There was a lot of these spaces when I was a kid. Now as an adult, they’ve been mostly eliminated. All of this has fueled an epidemic of loneliness. The next 250 years should see all sectors bring back third spaces. There should be investments in things like local libraries and parks that cities can make. When designing urban areas, architects should design them in a way that makes them walkable and conducive to human interaction. Workplaces should create third spaces so coworkers could mingle and get to know one another. These strategies are ones that will help foster belonging and hopefully bring an end to the loneliness epidemic.

These wishes are ones that America should aim for the next years or so. I know these goals are not only shared by me, but also from my fellow Gen Z’ers and thousands of other Americans across this great land. These will not be accomplished overnight and these wishes will take time. But these are ones that all Americans should strive for. If we take action and accomplish them, our future and our country will be in a much better place than we were before.

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Here is what I imagine America to look like in 250 years as someone from the UK

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America in the Future (Podcasting) final-2

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I truly do hope this becomes true

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I envision America in 250 years from now as a nation that is technologically advanced—where robots and artificial intelligence handle much of e-commerce and everyday systems, making life more efficient and accessible.

More importantly, I hope that 250 years from now, our education system has changed. Schools should not prioritize memorizing information that does little to prepare students for real life. Instead of focusing only on careers, education should teach people how to be human—how to think, connect, and understand one another. The most valuable “currency” shouldn’t just be money; instead, they should look to much more valuable currency’s such as love, relationships, and meaningful experiences.

When people look back on their lives, they won’t remember every detail of what they did in school or work—they’ll remember who they shared those moments with. That is what truly matters.

I also envision a world where harmful content is less normalized—where people aren’t constantly exposed to things like violence or pornography through everyday media. The digital world should uplift people, not desensitize them.

In addition, I hope our government evolves beyond the limitations two-party system. Too often, it divides citizens and turns differences into conflict instead of encouraging understanding and cooperation.

Ultimately, I believe our nation doesn’t just need technological advancement—it needs moral advancement. The future of America should be defined not only by what we create, but how  each citizen treats each other, because the past few years our country has never felt more divided.